Dent removing tool



Dec. 16, 1969 s. A. GIANNETTO DENT REMOVING TOOL Filed May 26, 1967 wwml INVENTOR. .SAL VA 70H5 A. 6MM/vs rra 3,483,727 DENT REMOVING TOOL Salvatore A. Giannetto, 35 Acorn Lane, Plainview, N.Y. 11803 Filed May 26, 1967, Ser. No. 641,681 Int. Cl. B21d 1.7/20

US. Cl. 72-429 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLUSURE A dent removing tool wherein puncture means is spring loaded within the shaft of the tool actuable to pierce a selected portion of the dent, means to set the puncture means within the pierced portion of the dent and means to draw the dent outward including a hammer slideably mounted on the shaft adapted to be moved back and forth to strike a stop lock mounted on the shaft.

The present invention relates to a dent removing tool.

Sheet metal structures especially automobile body and fenders become dented and misshapen during mishaps and it is desirable to remove such dents to maintain the automobiles styling and economic value.

While certain minor dents may be readily removed from the reverse side of the dent by pushing the dent out, it is oftentimes diicult to gain access to the rear of the dent due to its location and oftentimes the automobile has to be partially disassembled in order to gain such access. In an attempt to overcome the foregoing problem numerous dent removing tools have been developed. These tools generally provided an elongated body with a handle end and a screw end, the screw end being screwed into a hole prepared with the dent. A hammer slideably mounted on the shaft is then moved back and forth striking a plate near the handle end of the shaft to draw the dent out to its desired shape. While the basic tool is satisfactory the preparatory work to set the tool is time consuming. The dented portion of the body has to be rst prepared by drilling a small hole into which the screw end of the tools lit and oftentimes in straightening out large dents a plurality of drill holes have to be separately made with the result that the work becomes a start and stop operation from drill to tool and where power drills are employed the work had to be performed in an area with an available power source.

Where punches are employed to provide the necessary starting holes the punching of the hole oftentimes causes greater distortion to the dent and as with drills requires separate tools to prepare the dented area for work.

According to the present invention a dent puller tool is provided with a spring-loaded screw mount loaded within the tool shaft, the screw mount preferably having a widening diameter screw at its end. The trigger for the screw mount rides in a channel on the shaft and the hammer slide on the shaft preferably includes a trigger lock which engages the trigger to draw the screw mount along the shaft to be set. Once set the end of the shaft is placed against the desired point in the dent and the trigger released shooting forward the screw mount, the screw piercing the metal. The screw is then further set by rotation and the hammer slide used in the conventional manner.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out lmay be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a dent puller of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

nited States Patent O ICC FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The dent puller 1 generally comprises a substantially hollow shaft 2 having an open end 3, a hammer 4 slideably mounted on the shaft 2, a stop block 5 secured to the shaft 2 at a point along the shaft 2 substantially spaced apart from lthe open end 3 and a longitudinal channel 6 beginning at a point near the open end 3 and eX- tending part way along the length of the shaft 2 towards the stop block 5, puncture means such as a screw mount 7 is spring mounted within the shaft 2, the spring biasing the screw mount 7 outward through the open end 3 of the shaft 2. A projection such as a vertical finger 8 extends upward from the screw mount 7 and rides Within the channel 6, the linger 8 intersecting the outer end of the channel 6 and acts as a stop for the screw mount 7.

Puncture of the work piece is effected by a pointed object 1 such as a screw 9, preferably a sheet metal screw having a gradually decreasing diameter to a point which is mounted within the screw mount 7 with the point of the screw extending outward of the open end 3 of the shaft 2.

As shown in FIG. 2 the vertical finger 8 is preferably removably mounted'within the screw mount 7 such as by provision of a threaded opening in the top of the screw mount 7 and threading along the lower section of the vertical finger 8. A slot 16 may be provided along the top of the vertical finger 8 so that it may be readily inserted and removed by a screw driver. The screw mount '7 is Athereby readily removable as is the spring 6 and replacement of worn parts, such as the screw 9 or the spring 6 may be readily accomplished.

The end of the hammer 4 is preferably provided with an arcuate linger 10 which extends from the end of the hammer 4 facing the open end 3 and is disposed in sub stantially horizontal plane to the shaft 2. The hammer may be slid along the shaft 2 and the arcuate linger 10 latched about the vertical finger 8 and the vertical linger drawn along the channel 6 by drawing the hammer 4 away from the open end 3 against the spring tension. If the shaft 2 is vertically positioned with the open end 3 facing upward during tensioning the weight of the harnmer 4 aids the draw back.

Upon disengagement of the arcuate finger 10 such as by rotation of the hammer 4 about the shaft 2 in a direction opposite the arcuate surface of the arcuate linger 10 the spring 11 impells the screw mount 7 along the shaft 2 outward of the open end 3.

As shown in FG. l the channel 6 may include an elbow shaped portion 12 disposed along, and preferably at the inner end of the channel 6, the elbow shaped portion 12 preferably extending outward from the main portion of the channel 6 in a direction opposite the arcuate surface of the arcuate linger 10. In such manner upon the drawing back of the screw mount 7 by the engagement of the arcuate linger 10 about the vertical linger S, rotation of the hammer 4 will position the'vertical linger 8 within the elbow portion 12 locking the screw mount 7 and spring 11 in tensioned position. The hammer 4 may then be disengaged from the vertical finger 8 without triggering the device.

By provision of a flange 13 which extends outward from the end of the hammer 4 in spaced apart relation to the arcuate linger 10, the vertical finger 8 may be disengaged from the elbow portion 12 by rotation of the hammer 4 whereby the flange 13 butts a side of the vertical linger 8 and moves it along the elbow portion 12 until the vertical linger S is'aligned within the main portion of the channel 6 and impelled by the spring 11.

In operation, the screw mount 7 with the puncture means, shown as the narrowing diameter screw 9 mounted thereon is drawn inward of the shaft 2 and preferably locked in tensioned position as aforementioned. The open end 3 of the dent remover 1 is then positioned against the selected area of the dent 14 and the screw mount 7 released, impelling the screw mount 7 with the screw 9 thereon towards the selected area, the screw 9 puncturing the selected area. Once the screw 9 has pierced the metal, it can be further set by rotation.

By provision of a second elbow portion 15 along the channel near or at the end thereof nearest the open end 3, and positioning the vertical finger S therein during setting of the screw 9 the screw mount 7 and screw 9 will be locked against undesired movement upward along the channel 6 due to the pressure which may be exerted in the direction of the dent 14 during rotation of the shaft 2 to set the screw 9.

A transverse cross member or ymembers 17 may be provided on the shaft 2 near the end thereof opposite the open end 3 to facilitate rotation of the shaft 2 to set the screw 9.

Once the screw 9 is set, the hammer 4 is used, the hammer 4 being moved back and forth along the shaft 2, striking the stop 5 to provide a hammer blow which pulls against the dented portion of the metal, drawing it out t0- Wards its desired shape.

Once the desired shape has been attained or the hammering out desired at the particular point accomplished the screw 9 is removed by either the counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 2 employing the cross member 17 or by engaging the arcuate finger 10 on the hammer 4 about the vertical finger 8 within the elbow portion 15 and using the hammer 4 as the gripping means for rotation.

If further shaping is required for the dent 14, a second hole can be made in the dent 14 in the manner heretofore described, and the operation can continue without resort to supplemental tools.

As shown in FIG. 2 the stop 5 is preferable removeably mounted to the shaft 2 by the provision of a screw 18 which passes through the stop 5 and sets within a mated thread provided in the shaft 2 and in the event of damage or wear to any of the components, the entire device is readily disassemblable and reassemblable.

Both the screw mount 7 and the hammer 4 are readily removeable by the unscrewing of the vertical finger 8 as aforedescribed, the vertical linger S acting as a stop for the hammer 4 when mounted. The screw 9 is readily removable from the screw mount 7 and is readily replaceable in the event of damage `or wear.

It may thus be seen that through the use of a single tool the various operational steps may be completed and the dent removed.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description; it is recognized, though that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail, what is claimed is:

1. In a dent removing tool which comprises an elongated shaft, a stop on the periphery of said shaft, a slideably mounted hammer on said shaft forward of said stop, said hammer moveable forward and away from said stop, the improvement comprising said shaft with a substantially hollow core, having an opening at one end thereof, a longitudinal channel on the periphery of said shaft extending from a point inward of said open end, puncture means slideable within said shaft extending from a point inward of said open end, puncture means slideable within said shaft, a projection on said puncture means extending through said channel, spring means within said shaft biasing said puncture means towards said open end to extend a portion of said puncture means outward of said shaft, and means to draw said puncture means inward of said shaft to tension said spring means, whereby said spring means impells said puncture means to its extended position upon release of said tension.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means to draw said puncture means inward of said shaft includes, an arcuate finger extending from the end of said hammer facing said open end of said shaft, said arcuate finger adapted to engage said projection.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said channel includes an elbow, said elbow extending outward from the main portion of said channel at a point along the length of said channel spaced apart from said open end of said shaft, said elbow adapted to retain said projection therein when said puncture means is drawn inward of said shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hammer includes a ange extending from the end of said hammer facing said open end, said ange adapted to disengage said retained projection from said elbow upon rotation of said hammer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said channel includes an elbow, said elbow extending outward from the main portion of said channel at a point along the length of said channel near the open end of said shaft, said elbow adapted to retain said projection therein when said puncture means is in extended position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said puncture means include, a screw mount and a screw having a progressively narrowing diameter affixed to said screw mount.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 690,945 1/1902 Gray 173-119 2,767,399 10/ 1956 Widener 227-146 2,791,926 5 195 7 Guyton 72-705 2,934,984 5/1960 Woodman 72-705 2,941,429 6/ 1960 Mason 72-705 3,030,837 4/ 1962 Chartier 72-705 3,222,915 12/ 1965 Swisher 72-705 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,918 9/1939 Germany.

282,806 8/ 1952 Switzerland.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner GENE P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

